Game-indicator.



.No. 799,486. PATENTED SEPT.12, 190-5. 0. MoNABB.

GAME INDICATOR.

APPLICATION nun we. 29.1903.

2 anus-sum 1. I

No. 799,486. PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905. G. MoNABB.

GAME INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29,1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. p F 34am. M M w Mi flttozmu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MONABB, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

GAME-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed August 29, 1908. Serial No. 171,242.

nessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (frame-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to provide an indicator by the use of which the several features relating to the progress of a game of base-ball or any game of similar character may be indicated by the ofiicial scorer as they occur in such a manner that they may be observed both by the audience and the players.-

It consists of a specially-constructed indicator located in the field in position to be ob served by the audience and another similar indicator in position to be observed by the players and operating mechanism in the 0thcial scorers box with which both of said indicators are connected by which that official is enable to operate both indicators simultaneously, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showinga portion of the ball-field and grandstand, illustrating the use of my said invention; Fig. 2, a view of the face or dial of one of the indicators, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 8,

a central vertical section through one indicatordial and the mechanism connected therewith; Fig. 4:, an enlarged view illustrating a portion of said mechanism as seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 4 4c in Fig. 3; 5, a plan view of the operating-board, and Fig. 6 a vertical section through the same.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the indicator-dial in the field, B the indicator-dial behind the field, and G the opcrating-board.

The indicator-dials A and B are duplicates, except that the dial A, being situated in the outer field, preferably at or near the centerfield fence, should be larger than the dial B, which is situated at a convenient place on the grandstand directly behind the home plate. They may of course be made of the respective sizes found suitable for the purpose.

The indicator mechanism connected with each dial is of duplicate construction and is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and need,

therefore, be described in relation to one of said indicators only. Indicator-hands 1, 2, and 3 are mounted upon a shaft 4, supported at its rear end by means of a bracket (4, secured on the rear side of dial A. A nut 42 is provided. on the end of said shaft to hold the parts from longitudinal movement in one direction. Said hands are rigidly secured upon sleeves 5, 6, and '7, of varying sizes, mounted one within the other. Sleeve 5, having the outer hand 1 mounted thereon, is mounted directly upon shaft 4 and extends nearly to its rear end to bear against bracket (0 and is adapted to turn freely thereon. Sleeve 6, bearing the hand 2, is mounted on sleeve 5, with the hub of the hand abutting the hub of the hand 1, and extends within a short distance of the rear end of said sleeve 5. Sleeve 7, having the hand 3 mounted thereon, is mounted on sleeve 6, with the hub of said hand abutting the hub of hand 2, and extends nearly to the rear end of said sleeve 6. Upon the rear ends of said sleeves are mounted sprocket-wheels 8, 9, and 10, respectively. The hub of wheel 8 on sleeve 7 abuts the bearing-plate p on the rear side of the dial and the ends of the hubs of wheels 9 and 10 abut the ends of the adjacent sleeves. The parts are thus held from longitudinal movement, but arepermitted a free and independent rotation one upon the other. A sprocket-chain \V, with a weight w attached to one end, is mounted upon each of said sprocket-wheels.

The operators board C is a box-like structure having a series of vertical slots 0, 0 and c in its front side. Sliding knobs or handles 0", c, and 0 are mounted to slide vertically in said slots, being provided on their inner ends with perforations or cars for the attachment of the wires running to the indicators. ires 11, 12, and 13 are respectively attached at one end to one of said handles and extend downwardly and out through the tubing T, laid in the ground across the field, to the indicator A and connected to the ends of the sprocket-chains W opposite the weights w. Other wires 14, 15, and 16 are also connected with the operating-handles 0*, 0 and 0 and extend to the indicator B on the grandstand, where they are similarly connected to chains forming part of mechanism the duplicate of that described for the other indicator. Stops s, s, and are provided on the face of each indicator to stop each indicatorhand at O on the return movement, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. Hand 1 is used to indicate the number of balls, hand 2 the number of outs, and hand 3 the number of strikes and may also be used to indicate the hits and errors indicated on the dials by H and E. ()n the operators boardC are indicator-marks at points where the operating-handle 0* should stop to bring hand 1 to indicate the number of balls. Said points are marked 1 2 3 and A Alongside slot 0 are similarly indicated the points where handle 0 must stop to move hand 2 to indicate the number of outs upon the dial. Said points are marked 1", 2 and 3 Alongside slot 0 are similarly indicated the points where the hand 0 must stop to move hand 3 to indicate the number of strikes. Said points are marked 1 2 and 3 Other points (marked H and E) indicate points where the hands must stop to move the hand to indicate a hit or an error.

In operation the oflicial scorer by moving one of the handles 0, 0 or 0 may move either one of the indicator-hands to indicate a ball, a strike, an out, a hit, or an error, as above described, each hand being held against the force applied to said operating-handle by the Weights w. Immediately upon releasing said handle said weights will move the hands back to O against the stops. They also serve to prevent one sleeve from rotating with another except when the operating-handles are moved. Both corresponding hands upon the two dials are moved simultaneously, so that both indicators, one in front of the audience and the other in view of the players, will record the decision as to a play immediately and in position to be observed by all.

In indicating hits and errors it is intended that the hand 3 shall be moved to the H or Eon the dials, in each instance, paused long enough to show the decision, and then moved to the proper numeral to show the number of strikes on the batter.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A game-indicator comprising aplurality of indicator-dials located in different positions in relation to the field, indicator-marks on each dial relating to diti'erent steps of the game, indicator-hands and mechanism for operating them mounted on each dial, an operators board located between said dials and having an operating-handle for each indicator hand located in convenient position for the operator, and connections running from each handle to the corresponding indicator-hand op erating mechanism of each dial, substantially as set forth. I

2. A game-indicator comprising indicatordials located in different positions in relation to the field, indicator-marks on each dial relatin to the several ste )s in the ame, indicater-hands mounted on a shaft in the center of each of said dials to operate independently one of the other, mechanism for operating them, the operators box, and connections running to the operators box from each indicator, substantially as set forth.

3. A game-indicator comprising a dial divided into sections, each section having marks to indicate different steps in the game, indicator-hands mounted on a central journal, one hand for each of said sections, said hands being secured to sleeves mounted one within the other, sprocket-wheels on each sleeve, sprocket-chain on each wheel, a weight on one end of each chain, and connections running from said chains to operating-handles conveniently located,substantially as set forth.

4. A game-indicator comprising a'dial divided into sections, each section being arranged to indicate difi'erent steps in different features of the game, an indicator-hand for each section mounted on a central journal, each hand being mounted on a sleeve, which sleeves are mounted one within the other, wheels on said sleeves, flexible connections having a weight upon one end and passing over said wheels and connected at their other ends with operating-handles in convenient position, substantially as set forth.

in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Knoxville, Tennessee, this 22d day of August, A. I). 1903.

CHAS. MCNABB. [L. s]

I/Vitnesses:

J. J. GALBRAITII, A. 'I. PORELOGK. 

